Contract Marriage Interrupted - Chapter 58



Only Noblemtl

Episode 58. Enlightenment
2023.08.20.

As Odette got closer, the pain in Walter’s chest also got worse.

However, even that felt like joy to Walter.

‘Temptation.’

Did this woman really want to change the design of her wedding dress?

According to Emma’s report, she heard a sound from the maid who visited today, with marks on her neck and shoulders, but I guess that wasn’t enough.

Walter’s patience was tested every time he was alone with Odette, or every time she allowed him to touch him.

He had never been greedy for anything, and he was used to patience due to his long life as a knight, but whenever Odette was in front of him, his patience would always become thinner than a sheet of paper.

If Odette knew what Walter thought every time he saw her, she would definitely despise him.

‘Even now.’

Even though he had only hugged her, Odette was tense like a trapped animal.

This behavior was nothing more than a naive expression of unfamiliarity.

Of course, this aspect was endearing, but his fiancée was not overly alert.

Even a rabbit would run away when a wild animal approaches, but this one was trying to seduce her instead.

Odette did not take her eyes off Walter even though she was tense.

“… … I don’t believe you.”

No, she looked at Walter as if she wanted to.

“So prove it to me.”

Odette’s trembling fingertips touched Walter’s cheek.

It was not hard to figure out what she was doing.

“… … Ha. Are you following me now?”

　
Her hands caressed his cheek, brushed his ear, and stroked his hair as if stroking his nape.

There was no need to think deeply about it.

That was the path Walter’s hands always drew.

“Because I’ve never tried to seduce him before.”

“I taught cheating at Belfort or something.”

“I wasn’t a model student back then either.”

“Lies.”

How many times have I seen you hanging out with a woman who was always the best?

Walter swallowed his words and turned his gaze to Odette’s white nape.

The elegant line from her neck to her shoulders.

Whenever he kissed her straight collarbone, her lukewarm body scent would always tickle his nose.

When he recalled the memory of when he invaded that white skin, his tongue felt dry.

On the contrary, that was why Walter had never gone down any further than the second button of his shirt.

He knew very well that he would not be able to control himself once he crossed the line.

‘Fuck.’

In the end, Walter swallowed his curse and released the arm he was holding onto Odette.

“… … After we get married, I will give you whatever you want. Not today.”

At that, Odette’s face showed blatant disappointment.

It was too deep a disappointment to simply say that he had failed to seduce her.

She knew why Walter had rejected this seduction.

“You, are you going out?”

“… … How did you know?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I went to check, but the bedroom was empty.”

Walter sighed as if he finally understood the situation, and ran his fingers through his hair as if he was washing his face.

“I went out because I had something to do. It wasn’t anything serious, so I didn’t want to bother you, but I didn’t know you would find out.”

“If it’s nothing serious, can you tell me what happened?”

“That would be difficult. It’s personal. I’ll tell you later if I get a chance.”

If I get a chance, that was the premise.

Then what if I don’t get a chance?

Odette swallowed the doubt that was welling up in her chin.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

And she left Walter’s room without looking back.

Negative emotions were welling up to her knees, swaying.

She really didn’t feel good.

* * *

“Oh, Your Majesty. You couldn’t sleep?”

“Yes… … I guess so.” When

Odette smiled faintly with a slightly tired expression, Anne-Sophie, who had been running around without stopping, laughed brightly and clapped her hands.

“Comrade! I couldn’t sleep either. I was so sleepy while writing a report yesterday that I went to get some water, but I fell over just before sitting down and spilled the water on my report. Haha, I bought it because it said it was waterproof ink, but I guess I got scammed!”

Anne-Sophie’s eyes were devoid of light as she smiled cheerfully, saying that it would be better to just make waterproof paper herself.

“… … Anne, are you okay?”

“… … If it’s not okay, I should go home, well… … .”

Anne-Sophie was a research student here, and she received enormous tuition, research expenses, and living expenses from the academy.

She was not only exceptionally talented in magic, but she was also a so-called genius who never missed the top spot during her time at the academy.

And Belfort Academy succeeded in tying up Anne-Sophie with money.

“But I like this job, so it’s okay! But why couldn’t Your Majesty sleep? You’re about to get married.”

“… … I’ve been thinking a lot.”

“Well, they say that people think a lot when they’re about to get married.”

It would have been better if that was the reason.

Odette had to fight her suspicions all night.

She wanted to ask Walter right away why he couldn’t tell her and sneaked out every night,

but she also wanted to trust him. ‘I could have trusted Walter until I heard that from Count Clovis.’

How deceitful the human heart is to lose faith as soon as something like this happened.

If it were someone else, she would have been more comfortable suspecting him.

She might have tried to figure out what he was doing without her knowing, whether it was by fully utilizing her ‘ability’ or by borrowing magic tools from Anne-Sophie.

However.

‘I don’t want to do that to Walter.’

He clearly said it was personal, and everyone has things they want to hide.

What if Walter finds out if she digs into something like that?

No, even if she doesn’t find out, would she be able to face Walter with confidence after that?

‘I don’t want to ruin our relationship like that.’ She

didn’t want to dig up Walter’s possibly dirty parts just to make herself feel a little less anxious.

Only then did Odette realize one thing.

‘I… … value this relationship more than I thought.’

Walter had gotten deeper into her than she had realized without realizing it.

Of course, it could have been a one-sided relationship, but how can relationships always be so equal?

​​’… … Okay, let’s wait.’

She said she’d tell him when the opportunity came, so let’s not be so quick to suspect.

Thinking like that, her heart calmed down.

Thanks to that, Odette was able to achieve her original purpose of visiting Belfort Academy in a much more relaxed state.

That was to help Anne-Sophie with her experiments.

It was an extension of the research on the magic tool pendant she had borrowed from Anne-Sophie the other day.

After a few experiments, including testing its magical power, Anne-Sophie nodded in satisfaction.

“Hmm, it’s a useful ability no matter when you see it.”

“Thank you. Do you think the research will make any progress?”

“Hmm, I think I should plug in a few of the results from today… … Anyway, if it goes well, I’ll contact you again. I feel a bit sorry for Your Majesty, but I wish I could do more serious research. Really!”

Anne-Sophie seemed sincere when she said that.

Even if it was just empty words, she seemed to be giving off the impression that she would really tie Odette up here.

“… … Do you know that I get a little scared every time you say that?”

“Hey, would I really do that? It’s just wishful thinking. Just!”

No, it really seems like it will happen.

Anne-Sophie was strangely motivated today.

“Anne, you’re usually not this enthusiastic. Is something wrong?”

“Yes! Your Majesty has a keen eye for detail!”

And as if this question had scratched an itch in Anne-Sophie, she began to pour out her words like a flood.

“You know we don’t get along well with the Department of Divinity, right? The professors may say so, but we’re actually enemies! But they’ve been going crazy lately! Research is booming!”

The Department of Divinity and the Department of Magic were like cats and dogs.

Divinity and magic differed in the nature of their powers, but their basic methods of operation were almost the same, so they always fought over which ability was more powerful.

Of course, professors who had reached a certain level would learn from each other’s methods and complement each other’s research rather than compete with each other, but the circumstances for the students under them were different.

Because of that, when the other department shows achievements, the desire to show research results is naturally ignited here as well.

“So it seems like the Department of Divinity has achieved some results this time?”

“That’s right! I heard that there was a holy relic that the Department of Divinity has been researching all along. There are only three of them on the entire continent, and it grants wishes.”

“Wishes? Is that possible?”

“According to the documents, it’s said that it’s possible to turn back time or bring the dead back to life? Of course, these are just records and claims.”

Anne-Sophie’s words were interesting.

However, Odette did not completely trust the story.

It was not because it was too absurd.

‘There are so many absurd things with sacred powers and magic.’

Furthermore, this was the research lab of the highest academy in the empire.

The person who brought it up was the head researcher of the magic research lab.

So it was not an unreliable story.

However, she was curious about the fact that nothing was known about the holy relic.

“If it was such a great thing, shouldn’t it have been known to the world long ago? I’ve never heard of it.”

“That’s… … There are stories of people who used it, but it seems that the method of use is unknown.”

Furthermore, the last person to use it was someone who used it over a hundred years ago, and the contents of the documents that were handed down were so few and confusing that it was difficult to research.

“That’s why it seems that the imperial family took measures to prevent the story about the holy relic from leaking out until the method of use was known.”

“So did the Department of Divinity find out how to use it this time?”

“No. But it seems that they found someone who could give them a reward. “I don’t know who it is, but there is someone who has used the holy relic at this time.”

Anne-Sophie, who was complaining that even Professor Xantippe of the Magic Department was running around absentmindedly, suddenly let out an “Ah!” as if she had

just remembered something. “Come to think of it, I think you know that person, Your Majesty?”

“Me? Who is it?”

“Why, there was that person who said I seemed to have been cursed. A man who looked like a parasite! Was his name Count Colombi?”

Odette let out a bewildered voice at Anne-Sophie’s muttering.

No way.

“… … Count Clovis?”